Sustainability

Sustainability has been a passion of mine for years. In 2017 I had the privilege to attend the Berkeley Sustainable Business and Investment Forum and listen to Freada Kapor Klein, Partner at Kapor Capital. The facts and figures she shared with the audience stuck with me, and I decided that I had to educate myself and start speaking up.

Diversity

Shortly after I was inspired by Arlan Hamilton, who was the first female, gay Venture Capital partner of color who believes that “underestimated” founders will achieve great (financial and social impact) returns.

Several studies highlight the fact that in the last couple of years less than 3% of Venture Capital money has been invested in female founders. The current VC structure, stereotypes against women and minorities, and the lack of access to funding networks are major reasons why this funding gap exists. As a society we must push for more diversity in the tech sector and for more women and people of color to be VC investors.

  • In 2019 I was part of the Babson Entrepreneurship Forum Speaker Committee and organized the first Inclusive Product Design Workshop at Babson College.
  • I also had the privilege to attend the Harvard Women Conference 2020 and shared my notes and take away here.

Impact Investing

Combining my passion for finance, startups and sustainability led me to deep-dive into the different aspects of impact investing.

A good overview provides this short guide for Impact Investing by the Case Foundation.

In 2020, I had the opportunity to attend the Harvard Private Equity and Venture Capital Conference 2020 and published my notes and learnings here.

Check out my Impact Investing series here.
Part1: Impact Investing — An Introduction to Impact Venture Capital
Part2: Impact Investing — Impact Venture Capital Best Practices
Part3: Impact Investing — How to measure and report impact
Part4: Impact Investing — Environment and Social Investment Examples and Pitfalls

Social- and Environmental Friendly Solutions

Studies project that we will reach a population of nine billion by 2050. As a society we need to re-think what we build, produce, consume and eat. For example, the current meat consumption is not sustainable and a shift to more plant-based food is necessary. We need to accept that low prices are oftentimes not sustainable and the producers on the bottom of the pyramid suffer the most.

In 2019 I had the privilege to join Dandelion’s chocolate sourcing trip to the Dominican Republic and visit the Zorzal Estate, which produces organic cacao and supports local cacao farmers. Dandelion is a leading bean-to-bar brand in California and decided to pay fair prices to the farmers and pass on the incurred cost to the end-consumer.

Conferences Attended

  • UC Berkeley Sustainable Business and Investment Forum 2017
  • UC Berkeley Sustainable Business and Investment Forum 2018
  • UC Berkeley 2019 Women In Leadership Conference
  • UC Berkeley Sustainable Business and Investment Forum 2019
  • Harvard Business School 29th Annual Dynamic Women in Business Conference 2020
  • Harvard Business School 26th Annual Venture Capital Private Equity Conference 2020

Recommendations

Books

  • Business Ethics: A Kantian Perspective by Norman E. Bowie
  • The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and Politics of World Trad by Pietra Rivoli
  • The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America’s Underground Food Movements by Sandor Ellix Katz
  • Rebel Talent: Why It Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life by Francesca Gino
  • Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken
  • The Memo. What women of color need to know to secure a seat at the table by Minda Harts
  • Good Company by Arthur M. Blank
  • Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia

Podcasts

  • Seeing White, “Examines racial structures through the lens of oppressors”